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'Thank God there was a door' A safe harbor for stormy lives Animals love human volunteers Bean Project changes lives City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly Cops continue crusade for needy kids Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles Denver Partners find joy in mentoring Determination helps single mom Feast gives poor a meal fit for king Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy Homeless critters need Christmas, too Kids Cafes serve up sustenance Little white ball leads teen to turnaround Mentors help teens excel in school, life Musician strikes chord with mentors Once-homeless teen opens door Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention Reach out by reading aloud to kids Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle' Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule School's goal is personal growth Specialist helps keep Indians in class Students communicate, learn through dance moves Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
'Thank God there was a door'
A safe harbor for stormy lives
Animals love human volunteers
Bean Project changes lives
City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly
Cops continue crusade for needy kids
Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles
Denver Partners find joy in mentoring
Determination helps single mom
Feast gives poor a meal fit for king
Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy
Homeless critters need Christmas, too
Kids Cafes serve up sustenance
Little white ball leads teen to turnaround
Mentors help teens excel in school, life
Musician strikes chord with mentors
Once-homeless teen opens door
Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick
Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention
Reach out by reading aloud to kids
Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle'
Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule
School's goal is personal growth
Specialist helps keep Indians in class
Students communicate, learn through dance moves
Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
80,000 meals a year fill young tummies
By Peggy LoweDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Even a couple years of seniority can give a girl an edge at the Kids Cafe. Leanor Ibarra, a quiet 10-year-old, got a good one over on the younger children at her table at the Rude Park Rec Center one night. As they chowed down on the tan, white and green crispy strips, Leanor heard her chance. "They were saying, 'They look like worms.' I told them, 'Yeah, they are,"' Leanor said, not even cracking a smile. The others screamed and laughed but kept eating their baked vegetable strips that became known as "fried worms." "They're good, kind of," said 7-year-old Cierre Lucero. "They taste like french fries." It was just another night at the Kids Cafe, a program run by Food Bank of the Rockies for low-income and homeless children across Denver. The Rude (pronounced ROO-dee) site is one of five that's open five nights a week, 52 weeks a year. Food Bank of the Rockies started Kids Cafe nearly seven years ago after officials discovered that 46 percent of those they serve are children. "We thought if half the people needing food are kids, we ought to do something," said Jeanne Downes, director of Kids Cafe. Other Kids Cafes sites are at Clare Gardens in northwest Denver, Crofton Ebert School near Five Points, and Boys and Girls Club North and South locations. Food Bank of the Rockies spends $300,000 preparing 80,000 meals a year for the program, Downes said. The Kids Cafe at Rude Rec Center is open to all children in the neighborhood south of Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The neighborhood is one of the poorest in the city, just across Colfax Avenue from the new $400 million Denver Broncos stadium. Kids Cafe is open year-round and the Rude site serves from 60 to 80 meals every day. Michael Maestas, who runs the Rude Rec Center, said he's noticed that they serve more meals toward the end of the month. There's probably more money from government programs at the beginning of the month, so children really need the Cafe later, he said. Eight-year-old Davyne Adorno said she's hungry every night and always eats more than anyone at her table. One night, she had three ham sandwiches, a juice box, pears and part of a green salad. Oh, and two bowls of fried worms. "They're good," she said between sips of grape juice. December 3, 2000 NewsWeatherOpinionNationWorldSci/TechDeaths BusinessStocks Bank Rates SportsBroncosAvalancheNuggetsRockiesCollegeRockyPreps RecreationSnow Rept.HikingBikingFishingGolfCalendarDentry EntertainmentMoviesDiningMusicOn StageBooksTV Living Comics Health Food Home & Garden Family Travel Cookbook Births Weddings Crossword ClassifiedPlace an adAutoCareersHomes User Agreement / Privacy Statement © Copyright, Denver Publishing Co.Subscribe to the NewsQuestions? Comments? Talk to Us
Even a couple years of seniority can give a girl an edge at the Kids Cafe.
Leanor Ibarra, a quiet 10-year-old, got a good one over on the younger children at her table at the Rude Park Rec Center one night. As they chowed down on the tan, white and green crispy strips, Leanor heard her chance.
"They were saying, 'They look like worms.' I told them, 'Yeah, they are,"' Leanor said, not even cracking a smile.
The others screamed and laughed but kept eating their baked vegetable strips that became known as "fried worms."
"They're good, kind of," said 7-year-old Cierre Lucero. "They taste like french fries."
It was just another night at the Kids Cafe, a program run by Food Bank of the Rockies for low-income and homeless children across Denver. The Rude (pronounced ROO-dee) site is one of five that's open five nights a week, 52 weeks a year.
Food Bank of the Rockies started Kids Cafe nearly seven years ago after officials discovered that 46 percent of those they serve are children.
"We thought if half the people needing food are kids, we ought to do something," said Jeanne Downes, director of Kids Cafe.
Other Kids Cafes sites are at Clare Gardens in northwest Denver, Crofton Ebert School near Five Points, and Boys and Girls Club North and South locations.
Food Bank of the Rockies spends $300,000 preparing 80,000 meals a year for the program, Downes said.
The Kids Cafe at Rude Rec Center is open to all children in the neighborhood south of Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The neighborhood is one of the poorest in the city, just across Colfax Avenue from the new $400 million Denver Broncos stadium.
Kids Cafe is open year-round and the Rude site serves from 60 to 80 meals every day. Michael Maestas, who runs the Rude Rec Center, said he's noticed that they serve more meals toward the end of the month. There's probably more money from government programs at the beginning of the month, so children really need the Cafe later, he said.
Eight-year-old Davyne Adorno said she's hungry every night and always eats more than anyone at her table. One night, she had three ham sandwiches, a juice box, pears and part of a green salad.
Oh, and two bowls of fried worms.
"They're good," she said between sips of grape juice.
December 3, 2000
